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Stop The Slaughter Of Caspian Seals Before They Vanish Forever

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Sponsor: Free The Ocean

Caspian seals are dying in illegal nets and poisoned waters as their ice disappears—unless governments act now, this ancient species could vanish from the Earth in our lifetime.

Stop The Slaughter Of Caspian Seals Before They Vanish Forever

Caspian seals are the only marine mammals in the Caspian Sea. They’ve lived in these waters for millions of years—but now they’re at serious risk of disappearing forever. Once numbering over a million, their population has collapsed by more than 90%1. Today, fewer than 170,000 remain2.

Illegal Nets Are Killing Thousands Every Year

Illegal sturgeon fishing is a major killer. Thousands of Caspian seals die every year after becoming entangled in illegal gillnets meant for poaching endangered fish3. These nets cut into their necks or cause them to drown. Bycatch is now considered the single greatest direct threat to their survival4.

The Sea They Depend On Is Vanishing

The Caspian Sea is shrinking fast. Rising temperatures are accelerating evaporation. Ice sheets the seals rely on for giving birth and nursing pups are melting sooner or disappearing altogether. Scientists predict the sea could drop by as much as 18 meters before the end of the century5, wiping out critical breeding grounds and cutting the species off from food sources and safe resting sites.

Industrial Activity Is Disrupting Seal Life

Oil operations and shipping routes cut through seal habitat. Icebreakers servicing offshore platforms disturb nurseries during pupping season. Haul-out sites are being lost to sea level decline and coastal development6. These threats push seals into polluted or overfished waters, compounding their risk.

Protections Exist But Lack Enforcement

Although Caspian seals have been listed as endangered and their habitats have been mapped into Important Marine Mammal Areas, these designations don’t restrict industrial activity or fishing4. Without real protections and enforcement, these zones mean little for seal survival.

We Can Still Save Them

Experts say recovery is possible. But time is short. Regional governments—especially in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan—can stop illegal nets, reduce vessel traffic in seal zones, and protect key habitat. Caspian seals help regulate fish populations and support the marine food chain. If they vanish, the collapse of the Caspian Sea ecosystem will follow.

Sign the petition calling on regional leaders to protect the Caspian seal before it's too late.

More on this issue:

  1. CaspianSeal.org, "Caspian seal origin, life history, threats and conservation."
  2. Nelson, Caspian Policy Center (20 Jun 2023), "Kazakhstan Makes Efforts to Save the Declining Caspian Seal Population."
  3. Reporter, The Moscow Times (17 Sep 2024), "Is Russia Running Out of Time to Save the Caspian Seal From Extinction?"
  4. IUCN, Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (6 Dec 2021), "Endangered Caspian Seal Habitat Awarded Important Marine Mammal Area Status."
  5. University of Leeds, Research News (10 Apr 2025), "Caspian Sea Decline Threatens Endangered Seals and Coastal Communities."
  6. Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, "Conservation of Endangered Caspian Seals."
  7. IUCN, Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, "Caspian Sea IMMA."

The Petition

To the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and Fisheries Committee of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and State Maritime Administration of Azerbaijan, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan,

We, the undersigned, urgently call on your ministries to take immediate and decisive action to protect the endangered Caspian seal (Pusa caspica)—a species found nowhere else on Earth and the only marine mammal native to the Caspian Sea.

The Caspian seal population has declined by over 90% in the past century, with recent estimates placing the current population between 104,000 and 168,000 individuals. These animals are vital to the Caspian Sea ecosystem, serving as a key predator that helps regulate fish populations and maintain ecological balance. Their loss would have cascading effects on biodiversity and the long-term health of the marine environment.

A major driver of their decline is drowning in illegal sturgeon fishing nets—thousands of seals are killed this way each year. Additionally, vessel traffic, including icebreakers and industrial ships, disturbs key breeding and haul-out sites, especially during critical periods when mothers give birth and nurse their pups on winter ice. Without bold action, this iconic species could vanish within decades.

We respectfully urge your governments to:

  • Enforce a ban on illegal fishing nets and sturgeon poaching operations, with increased patrols and stricter penalties;
  • Implement bycatch reduction programs and incentivize safe-release practices among fishing communities;
  • Establish and enforce seasonal no-traffic zones around known seal breeding and resting areas;
  • Upgrade Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) into formally protected areas with legal safeguards against industrial disruption.

Taking these steps will not only help save the Caspian seal from extinction, but will also safeguard your countries’ marine biodiversity, improve the sustainability of local fisheries, and preserve the health of the Caspian Sea for future generations.

Together, we can protect this ancient species—and ensure a better future for all who depend on the Caspian.

Sincerely,

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